12 yr Old DD asking questions about losing virginity!

[Mopswerver]

My 12 yr old has always been ahead in her physical development and currently looks about 15. However, emotionally I would say she is younger than her years.

Last night she asked me when I lost my virginity as she "...didn't want to do it too early or too late..."

I tried not to look too shocked and told her that I was 16 but that it was a very big step and should only be taken when in a loving relationship, certainly not to be entered into lightly etc.

How have others handled this subject. I don't want to come down too authoritarian as i do want her to talk to me about these things but I don't want to be too liberal either!

Thinking of sex at 12! I think I was still playing with Barbies!

Just because she's asking the questions doesn't mean she's going to do it. Studies have shown that children whose parents are open and communicate with them about sex are less likely to experiment early. So keep talking :)

I think you handled it fairly well, it's incredibly valuable if she feels she can talk to you about these things She doesn't really want to know details about your sex life (almost as much as you won't want to know about hers). But talking about how you felt and how you made those decisions, could be so helpful, you still have so much influence over her values & thinking, seize it while you can!

Of course she's very curious. I remember at 13 feeling I would be the worst loser in the world if I was still a virgin at 16. She's not too young. Remember in medieval times marriage age was 12-15 (9-11 if you were nobility).

Thanks guys, yes, I can see that I may be panicking a little prematurely.

I will definitely keep lines of communication open on this one!

No such thing as too late.
Anything before 16 is illegal.